site.btaThis Has Been One of Warmest Months of August in Bulgaria since 1930

The eighth month of 2024 is one of the warmest months of August in Bulgaria since 1930, the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology said on Friday. Average monthly temperatures in the outgoing month have ranged between 21 C and 28 C, which exceeds the usual monthly level by between 1 C and 4 C.

The highest temperature was 41.6 C, measured on August 14 in Novachene, in the north-central Pleven Region. The lowest temperature in a population centre was 6 C, recorded on August 7 in Chepelare, in the south-central Smolyan Region. The lowest temperature at a mountain peak was recorded at Musala (the highest elevation on the Balkan Peninsula) in Mt Rila, in the southwest of the country, at minus 4.1 C on August 27. The capital Sofia saw a monthly high of 36.7 C on August 15 and a monthly low of 11.5 C on August 7.

This is also one of the driest months of August since 2014. In most of the country, the monthly amount of precipitation is between 2% and 50% of the usual level. In much of Eastern Bulgaria and the highlands of the south, the monthly amount of precipitation is 50% to 150% of the usual level. Only some isolated areas have seen more than 150% of the usual precipitation level (235% in Ivailovgrad, South-Central Bulgaria). The largest recorded 24-hour amount of precipitation (rain) was 112 mm in Durankulak, in the northeastern Dobrich Region, on August 30. Hailstorms were recorded on six days of the month, most widespread on August 21, when they were registered by 11 weather stations.

The continuously hot and dry weather in August increased the risk of fires. Blazes have broken out in many parts of the country as a result of agricultural activity or negligence. Lightning has caused several forest fires in highland areas.

The amount of water in Bulgaria's rivers in August has been below the "medium" mark and around the "low" mark. Rain raised the water level in the catchment area of the Yantra River by up to 32 sm on August 3, and in the Western Aegean Basin (in the Struma River by up to 52 cm) and the Eastern Aegean Basin (in the Arda River by up to 93 cm) between August 19 and 21. Throughout the whole month, the Fakiiska River has been dry in the area of the village of Zidarovo, and the Ropotamo River has had no water in the area of the village of Veselie.